When I arrived at The Ancient Yoga Center in Texas, a 230-acre property of Radha Madhav Dham some 6 years ago, I had no idea what to expect. Why You Need the Support of Other Women-Sacred Sisterhood
I was incredibly honored to spend a blissful few days with women who had supported me more than any woman ever had before in my life. No judgment, there to listen, hold space, and replenish one another. Dancing, drawing, fire ceremonies, nourishing food, and amazingly powerful women.
This surely is not what I was used to, or likely what many of you have been accustomed to. Competition and comparison seep into the pores of many women, forever holding us back from infinite possibilities in our lives.
That fated weekend is forever etched into my soul, and when I need reminders of how women can be when complete, whole, enlightened….whatever word you want to assign, it makes me long to be back at that temple, where I had no worries, plenty of breakthroughs..and even a night of ordered silence. That was quite exhilarating.
My fellow sisters. <3
PHOTO CREDIT: Shanti Matulewski
Since then, I have been a witness to much of the opposite behavior, and it has inspired me to begin to bring attention to the possibilities and share with others my hopes for my circles, and for yours.
I crave an intimate connection, much as you do.
Moments where we can openly and compassionately share what we are feeling without worry of repercussion, without it being shared, without judgment. Where we can talk about things deep in our soul and know that those on the receiving end hold space for us and can be trusted with our hearts.
Deep, authentic, connection. Where we can cry, scream, and tell our deepest fears as well as our wildest dreams and know that it is a safe space. It will always be a safe space. Women who champion one another, celebrate the wins with us as if they were their own wins…because in reality, they are.
When we as strong women, work to heal our wounds, in essence, we are helping so many other women to do the same. Blakeway (2019) says, “Healers are simply conduits” (p. 209), there is a lot of truth to this statement. We feel good in a healer’s presence, we know when we are in good company when we are in a safe space. This good energy helps us to feel safe enough to open the door to our own wounds for healing, integration, and transformation.
The opposite can surely also be true. Those that are hurt, those that have trauma and deep-seated insecurities can easily do damage to others, we can call it mirroring, projecting, all the way down to jealousy, competition, and comparison.
While it is true that a healer has done a lot of work on themselves, and a lot of their own healing….it is a healer’s experiences that help us to show up for others. We are more compassionate, understanding, and willing to be the mirror that someone else needs to help them take the next step in their journey.
Back at the healing center in Texas, I sat in a circle of powerful connected women, a beautifully adorned sacred altar in the middle, and the room was lit only by candles. We went around the room and spoke of our fears, of what we were ready to let go of…and I had a moment with the facilitator…now a mentor and beautiful friend…that I will never forget.
Her unconditional love for me as I let go of what I was holding on to, my guttural sobs and screams filled the room, feeling like for a fleeting moment that her and I were the only ones in the room. We both cried. We both stood and embraced one another and in the moment she gifted me a beautiful statue of Quan Yin from the altar, goddess of compassion. A statue that is now adorned on my own personal altar. That was the first time I bore witness to that kind of sacred sisterhood, but it would not be my last.
Many life events happened after that trip…..ones that reminded me that not every woman will come from this space….or maybe ever will. But I have hope. I have hope that the possibility is there and will bring awareness to that over anything else. What we bring into our circle is what will flourish.
What can we do?
1. Encourage each other to not only drop the competitive nature, but also cease toxic comparisons, and leave behind the ‘Basket of Crabs Syndrome’, and instead support our fellow sisters in their endeavors, ones that require bravery and vulnerability. We all need this!
2. Never minimize another sister and what it took for them to take a leap of faith in their life, making bold and exciting decisions. Playing it safe should not be part of our offerings to one another, but showing up as true champions of each other’s lives, saying things like you’re powerful, you’ve got this, and letting your fellow sister know you have got their back and will not let go. Don’t be afraid to tell them they messed up….while in the same breath tell them not to dare quit. We need this authenticity!
3. Be present and show up. Consider what it is that you need or desire from a fellow sister and be that. Take the next step and ask them what it is that they need from you. Spreading our wings is not easy, but when you know that your sisters are there to help you spread your wings father, not cut them off is one of the very best aspects of sacred sisterhood. Trust, support, and deep connection.
These are just a few simple steps that can brighten lives and create sisterhood bonds to last a lifetime.
Just when I felt that I would never find a bond like I did in that circle again….I found myself atop a mountain in Idaho, in an adorable little home filled with medicine of all kinds, in the presence of perhaps one of the most powerful woman that I may ever meet in this life….pretty sure our bond goes well beyond this lifetime though, and I instantly knew that I had found my home yet again. Hours and hours of conversation on a couch, on two rocking chairs overlooking the beautiful mountains, amidst thousand-year-old cedar trees, and around a dancing fire were moments where I felt incredibly supported and was able to offer the same….with no walls, no boundaries, just beautiful vulnerability, and love.
To these women and others who have shown up for me and shown me know that sisterhood like this is possible….sending all of you my love.
I desire this and more for all of you….
Wishing you abundant health and happiness….and a sisterhood that is all that you wish it to be.
Leslie xo
References
Blakeway, J. (2019). Energy Medicine: The Science and Mystery of Healing. New York, NY: Harper Wave.
